Bundee Aki runs a tight line to Johnny Sexton and makes some yards with a bristling, bustling run.

Ireland are back into the Italy 22m. Can they work their way over this time?

Image source, AFP

Cleanly taken by Jordi Murphy at the back.

Ireland rev up the rolling maul, but the juggernaut splinters into a sidecar and slips to the floor.

Scrum Italy and Ireland short of their usual laser-guided accuracy.

Overthrown!

Sean Cronin misses Peter O'Mahony, but it might be the lifters at fault. It looked like the ladder underneath the flanker was never fully unfurled.

Italy clear with a mighty wallop of boot leather, but Ireland are soon back.

Cronin with another chance to get his dart right in the Italy 22m...

Image source, PA

Ireland's front row milk their Italian counterparts for a penalty at the first scrum with Simone Ferrari plunging snout-first into the turf.

Sean Cronin is throwing into a line-out seven metres short of the Italy line.

Braam Steyn is held up in the tackle as he is enveloped in the bear hug of Peter O'Mahony and Bundee Aki comes in to strip the ball.

Better from Italy as Michele Campagnaro hits a line at pace and with purpose.

But they are being bested in the close quarters. Maxime Mbanda is off his feet in his attempt to prevent Peter O'Mahony getting his mitts on the ball.

Penalty to Ireland, who clear their lines.

Tony Ward
Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

England outplayed us, but we were better against Scotland and won ugly. Today we have to claim five points.

Tommaso Allan drops out long. Gathered by Sean O'Brien, who gets his head down and charges into the Italian chase.

Italy have not lost any decibels despite the absence of captain Sergio Parisse. Leonardo Ghiraldini gives it both barrels.

Kick-off next.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said: "The last thing Johnny Sexton needed was a rest. Wales made a lot of changes here, but they had a lot of guys that had played a lot of rugby.

"Johnny has not played much and I want him to get a bit of rhythm and it's the same with Conor Murray."

The teams are out promptly, which is just as well given the lengthy anthems for both nations.

First, up Ireland's Call. Lustily belted out by the away team and the phalanx of away support in the stands to the backing of a military brass band.

Image source, AFP

Italy head coach Conor O'Shea told ITV: "You are judged on results and rightly so. It's not about the future it's about today and we have done a lot of good things in the first two games, but it's about having the ability to consistently replicate that under pressure.

"This is a massive challenge today and we know that. You know you have to make over 200 tackles against Ireland and we have to focus on ourselves."

Image source, Getty Images

Today is a chance for Jordi Murphy to stake his claim to be a starter in Ireland's biggest matches.

And the Ulster flanker, making his first Six Nations start in four years, is fully aware that opportunity is knocking.

"There's no beating around the bush, the World Cup is in seven months time, this is a big opportunity and I plan on taking it with both hands," the 27-year-old said.

"They don't come by that often because obviously a lot of the boys in these positions have been playing really well.

"Look, I am very much game focused and I know I have to put in a performance this weekend but it's a big opportunity."

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

Image source, Getty Images

Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland in the Six Nations for the first time but the Munster skipper is already a key figure within the team. His skill as a line-out operator is crucial to how Ireland like to play with his ability to win clean possession – and steal opposition ball – helps his backline to execute their pre-rehearsed strike plays.

The line-out will be a key battleground today and O’Mahony’s role in there will be all the more important given that Ireland’s all-Connacht second row of Dillane (12 caps) and Roux (10 caps) has not been tested at international level before.

Italy’s Benetton pairing of Federico Ruzza and Dean Budd will be hoping to spoil the Irish set-piece while number eight Abraham Steyn is every bit as adept as O’Mahony at pilfering his opponent’s throws.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

Image source, Getty Images

In some ways, the Stadio Olimpico is the birthplace of Joe Schmidt’s reign as Ireland head coach. It was here in 2013 where the Declan Kidney era shuddered to a stop in a chastening 22-15 defeat that saw Brian O’Driscoll sin-binned and today’s captain Peter O’Mahony forced to play out on the wing. Kidney stepped down three weeks later, which ushered in the arrival of Schmidt later that year.

Leonardo Ghiraldini, who captains Italy today in the absence of the injured Sergio Parisse, is the sole survivor from that Italian side.

Image source, Getty Images

There are some memories to overcome for Ireland in Rome. Six years ago they travelled to the Eternal City and were on the receiving end of a defeat that will go down in Italian rugby history for just as long.

Peter O'Mahony was one year into his international career when that 22-15 defeat came about.

"I remember doing media after that game, I get a shiver down my spine," said the Munster and Lions flanker.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter O'Mahony captains an Ireland side that includes first-choice half-backs Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray for Sunday's Six Nations match in Rome.

Ireland make four changes, all in the pack, with hooker Sean Cronin replacing skipper Rory Best to earn his full Six Nations debut in his 68th Test.

Lock Ultan Dillane is given a first start in the competition, while Jordi Murphy comes into the back row and Ulster team-mate Iain Henderson returns to the bench.

Dave Kilcoyne starts at loose-head prop.

Ireland:Kearney; Earls, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Kilcoyne, Cronin, Furlong, Dillane, Roux, O'Mahony (capt), O'Brien, Murphy.

Replacements:N Scannell, J McGrath, John Ryan, Henderson, van der Flier, Cooney, Carty, Conway.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

Italy captain Sergio Parisse may not be available today but that has not stopped him from linking up with his international team-mates. The talismanic forward suffered a concussion injury with his club Stade Francais last week but he took part in a rigorous warm-up routine with one of the coaches just before Italy began their warm-up.

In the centre of the pitch, Conor O’Shea and Joe Schmidt were engaged in a very long conversation. I wonder what they were talking about? The best place to go for a pizza? Probably not.

Image source, Getty

With talismanic skipper and number eight Sergio Parisse absent because of concussion Italy make five changes.

Four are in the pack with Braam Steyn, impressive so far in the campaign, moving from flanker to number eight.

Ian McKinley, former Leinster academy prospect who now plays for Benetton, is on the bench.

Italy:15-Hayward, 14-Padovani, 13-Campagnaro, 12-Morisi, 11-Esposito, 10-Allan, 9- Tebaldi; 1-Lovotti, 2-Ghiraldini (capt), 3-Ferrari, 4-Ruzza, 5-Budd, 6-Tuivaiti, 7-Mbanda, 8-Steyn

Replacements:16-Bigi, 17-Traore, 18-Pasquali, 19-Sisi, 20-Zanni, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-McKinley, 23-Castello.

Image source, Getty

Let us first have a look at the teamsheets.

And there is a big absentee for the hosts...

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

Image source, Getty

Saturday’s win for Wales against England has revived Ireland’s title hopes but they must take advantage in ruthless fashion today.

Although Ireland’s third try against Scotland came in the 55th minute, the defending champions failed to come away from Murrayfield with a bonus point, which leaves them lagging behind Wales in the championship race.

So a bonus-point win is crucial for Joe Schmidt’s side and, with a points differential of -3, a repeat of their last three outings against the Azzurri, when they have scored over 50 points, is also vital.